French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday delivered an unusual Hindi farewell message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the Indian leader concluded the final leg of his multi-city visit to France.
The exchange came at the end of Modi’s tour, which began in Nice, moved to Evian for the G7 summit and concluded in Paris. Macron’s message marked a warm public send-off for Modi after a day that highlighted both diplomatic symbolism and bilateral outreach.
Speaking in Hindi, French President Macron, thanks PM Modi for friendship, & fruitful visit. pic.twitter.com/eH0q4OxngE
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) June 18, 2026
A courteous sign-off, delivered in Hindi
Speaking in Hindi, Macron opened with “Priya mitra Narendra” and said he was happy to have welcomed Modi to Nice, Evian, and Paris.
He followed that up in English with a brief self-check, saying, “I hope it was correct,” before adding, “France loves you.” He also thanked Modi for the friendship between the two countries and said he was pleased to see the Indian leader surrounded by friends in Paris before heading back to Delhi.
The comments were part of a farewell message posted at the close of the visit.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 18, 2026
The partnership marches on, old friend
Modi’s France trip was aimed at deepening the India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership, which was elevated earlier this year.
On the final day, Modi and Macron attended VivaTech 2026 in Paris, described in the report as Europe’s largest technology and start-up event, with India serving as the AI Country Partner.
The two leaders toured exhibition pavilions, interacted with innovators and entrepreneurs, and were seen sharing a warm embrace. Macron also said he plans to visit India in February next year, adding another layer of continuity to the bilateral engagement.
The numbers, as the Prime Minister tells them
Before leaving France, Modi addressed the Indian diaspora in Paris and used the occasion to speak about India’s economic trajectory.
He said exports had risen 35-fold over the past 12 years and that mobile manufacturing units had grown 100-fold, making India the world’s second-largest mobile manufacturer.
Modi said the country’s rapid development had made India the fastest-growing major economy and noted that India’s GDP had doubled during the period. He also pointed to growth in airports, universities, and highway infrastructure and said 250 million people had been lifted out of poverty.
Modi described the Indian community in France as a key pillar of the bilateral relationship, underlining the diaspora’s role in sustaining ties between the two countries.
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FAQs
Q1: What did Emmanuel Macron say to Narendra Modi in Hindi?
Ans: Macron addressed Modi as “Priya mitra Narendra” and said he was happy to welcome him to Nice, Evian and Paris before bidding him farewell.
Q2: Why was Prime Minister Narendra Modi in France?
Ans: Modi visited France for engagements including the G7 summit and meetings aimed at strengthening the India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership.
